Yes, i know...

I really NEED to post some pics of my kids; it is imperative that I keep you, my family, properly up-to-date on how the kids are doing. I have no recent pics to post, but let's see about a written commentary...
Noah - he is doing good. He had an all-nighter last weekend with his cub scouts'at his school, and stayed up til 3 am. I was asleep on the stage at 1:30. Bad parent, (since all the others managed to stay awake). He is still doing well academically, and I am thinking that I might remove him from his current school next year. Why? Because the floor plan (no walls, it was built in the social experimental era of the 50s/60s)causes mass distraction. I am not the only parent who has realized this. And, for social reasons. I'd love to get him into a private school, but is that reality?

Hannah - she is as talkative and imaginative as ever. Constantly creating scenarios for her and Natalie to act out. Of course with the proper dolls, horses, stuffed animals, and occassionally Noah's toys. It is funny, she can be quite bossy! ("I'm not playing with you!"-she tells Nat when Nat says 'no') Hmm, where does she get that from?? :) And, she of course, is absolutely beautiful and since her hair is growing, it has gotten really thick. But I still can not braid it or put anything in her hair, "No mom! It'll hurt!".

Natalie - she tags along with Hannah. She is also adored, literally, by her dad. He spoils her. But that will be his issue when she gets older. :) She has attitude (don't tell her 'no') and then she will just hug you till you think you're choking. Very loving.

-------------------------------------

What do you say to a customer who finds part of a brown paper bag (what the flour came in) in their slice of baked bread? How do you apologize to that? I had to laughingly ask, "So, who found the "golden ticket"?" They did not crack even a minute smile; I was screwed. The moment would be broadcast across the town, and since it was not something re: their ordered meal, I couldn't discount, offer desert or buy their meal. Yep, the 'straight-mouths' would talk about this to their friends, and it would not be with humor.

What do you say to an unhappy customer who has just told you that they do not want to buy their dinner? Well, of course you buy it, and I was going to do that anyway, but then they ask, "Is the rumor that GM is going to close true?" I look at the gentleman in his beautiful tailored shirt, with beautiful professional hair coloring and cut, and think: "What should I say?" I decide, give him my personal opinion. I tell him that for the two years I have worked there I have heard this rumor over and over again. And then I ask him, "If you, as a corporation, have signed a lease contract for a certain amount of years and to void the contractual deed must either buy it out, or find another business to buy it out, and see that your business is one of the only large pasta restaurants in town, would you stick it out or buy out?" He said, "I'd make it work." "If, you can hire managers who believe 100% in customer satisfaction, and are willing to do what it takes to bring the staff to that same mentality, what would you do? Saying that there is not a lot of competition." He said, "Keep the store." So, there you go sir. Tell all your friends that point-of-view and let the word spread; GM will do EVERYTHING that it can to keep its' doors open.
Later though, when I shared this conversation with the store manager, he told me that the store has actually been LOSING a large amount of revenue for the last 3-6 months (I can't remember exactly the time-frame). I balked! If I was an owner, and I was losing as much as GM has been, I'd seriously consider buying out the contract, or finding a buyer. Especially if business doesn't appear to pick up, or labor, inventory, etc. costs don't go down. But this, I'll keep to myself. (You don't count :) )